Critique, please: In 1836, a man in Illinois makes out deeds to "my son X", "my son Y", and "my minor son Z" (three separate deeds made the same day). "et ux" is not mentioned in these deeds. Later in 1836, My Minor Son Z is granted court permission to convey the land in his deed. Since Z is the only one designated "minor", it implies (doesn't it?) that X and Y are both 21 or older. Since the known wife isn't mentioned, how safe is it to assume she's dead in 1836? Does the absence of any further record (land, probate, marriage, census) in that county for grantor, X, Y, or Z imply they left? (The county did not subdivide thereafter.) If not, how could they not-leave any other record, before or after? If grantor and/or X and Y died, shouldn't there be some sort of estate settlement, even if not a probate? Cheryl singhals@erols.com